Best of the Week 2022-2023: Excellence in College Prep

ST. ED'S JAZZ COMBO AND JAZZ ENSEMBLE PERFORM PROFESSIONAL GIG AT CLEVELAND'S BOP STOP

On Wednesday evening, St. Ed's Jazz Combo and Jazz Ensemble performed at Cleveland's jazz venue, Bop Stop. Inviting audiences to see and support the next generation of jazz musicians, St. Ed's Jazz Combo and Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Angelo Kortyka '98, performed "Walkin'" by Miles Davis, "Sack o' Woe" by Cannonball Adderly, "Cantaloupe" by Herbie Hancock and a few other popular jazz tunes ranging from various styles including rock and Latin.

"The Bop Stop put out a call for student groups to perform on Wednesday evenings and that's how we got the gig," says Mr. Kortyka. "Our Jazz program has gained a great reputation in town and the Bop Stop was very excited to have us!"

"My favorite piece we performed was 'Count Bubba's Revenge.' There's just so much that goes on in the song, plus the trombone part is really fun to play," says Daniel Monahan '26. "Performing at the Bop Stop was really cool and my favorite part was that everyone there had the same love for jazz."

"My favorite part was playing 'Walkin’' by Miles Davis with the professional jazz saxophone player Steve Kortyka, Mr. Kortyka’s brother, who has played with Lady Gaga. It was so fun being able to play alongside a professional like him," says Aidan Nowak '23. "The whole experience playing at the Bop Stop was exciting, especially imagining all the other jazz legends who have played on that stage as us. The audience felt more alive because everyone clapped and cheered at the end of our solos and I could feel that energy while playing which was a wonderful thing to feel. I really just appreciated that I got to play somewhere where professionals play 'cause it makes me feel like I can be one of the greats like Miles Davis, Nat Adderley, or Dizzy Gillespie if I put the time, effort, and passion they put into jazz to be as good as they were."